I have most likely never spoken to anyone on this board in real life, and I don't even post that often. However, upon a recent epiphany I have decided it would be in my best interest to retire from the Battlefield world. Not that any of you have any real reason to care, but I just wanted to make it official.
I'll be retiring from 2142 as a Field Marshal Gold, which is plenty high a rank as far as I'm concerned. I started to look at my playing time...something like 10 days total. I have lost 10 days to this game, and I KNOW that I could keep on playing it for much, much longer. That's part of the problem.
I have all the badges, all but three unlocks, most of the pins, a few medals and ribbons, for what all that's worth. But what I gain in the game has an equivalent loss in real life. I lose time with my wife, I lose the chance to play with my son for a few more minutes before he goes to bed. I lose countless hours of sleep and most nights don't get to bed until midnight, so I'm losing the chance to go to bed with my wife as well, not to mention the OTHER negative side effects that has to offer.
It really just kind of hit me today...I love to play video games, and I especially love playing online against real people. It beats the ever living hell out of computer AI. But every time I sit down to play some 2142, I miss out. We have updates on the house we need to fix, I have an 18-month old son who loves to be tickled and chased around the house, and (like most people) I have a significant amount of self-improvement to do.
Keep in mind, this is not a rant against video games--I think they're great. I've been playing since Atari, and they have always been part of my life. There is nothing wrong with the games or gamers. I find the field of video game design fascinating as well...think about Doom. Think about Wolfenstein. Look how far First person shooters have come. They totally immerse you in them, they get your adrenaline pumping, and they're FUN!
But I think at my age, and with my situation, it's just time to put away the RAZR Mouse and the ZBoard and pick up the books and toys.
Not everyone is in my situation. A lot of you guys are single, or have understanding wives, or maybe you're younger and have the time and energy to really play this game. I know it's going to be hard initially, but for me, this is what I want to do. Again, not that anybody here has a reason to care, but I just needed to get my feelings out there.
Maybe I'll take up hiking or something. Perhaps I'll do more work outside in the yard, or teach a class, or write a novel. Regardless, I don't regret this decision at all, and I don't think I'll miss the gaming. I will remember some of the battles, and some of those really badass moments when I was just Uber-Pwning the nuubs with my 1337ness.
And then my son will smile at me.
I'll be retiring from 2142 as a Field Marshal Gold, which is plenty high a rank as far as I'm concerned. I started to look at my playing time...something like 10 days total. I have lost 10 days to this game, and I KNOW that I could keep on playing it for much, much longer. That's part of the problem.
I have all the badges, all but three unlocks, most of the pins, a few medals and ribbons, for what all that's worth. But what I gain in the game has an equivalent loss in real life. I lose time with my wife, I lose the chance to play with my son for a few more minutes before he goes to bed. I lose countless hours of sleep and most nights don't get to bed until midnight, so I'm losing the chance to go to bed with my wife as well, not to mention the OTHER negative side effects that has to offer.
It really just kind of hit me today...I love to play video games, and I especially love playing online against real people. It beats the ever living hell out of computer AI. But every time I sit down to play some 2142, I miss out. We have updates on the house we need to fix, I have an 18-month old son who loves to be tickled and chased around the house, and (like most people) I have a significant amount of self-improvement to do.
Keep in mind, this is not a rant against video games--I think they're great. I've been playing since Atari, and they have always been part of my life. There is nothing wrong with the games or gamers. I find the field of video game design fascinating as well...think about Doom. Think about Wolfenstein. Look how far First person shooters have come. They totally immerse you in them, they get your adrenaline pumping, and they're FUN!
But I think at my age, and with my situation, it's just time to put away the RAZR Mouse and the ZBoard and pick up the books and toys.
Not everyone is in my situation. A lot of you guys are single, or have understanding wives, or maybe you're younger and have the time and energy to really play this game. I know it's going to be hard initially, but for me, this is what I want to do. Again, not that anybody here has a reason to care, but I just needed to get my feelings out there.
Maybe I'll take up hiking or something. Perhaps I'll do more work outside in the yard, or teach a class, or write a novel. Regardless, I don't regret this decision at all, and I don't think I'll miss the gaming. I will remember some of the battles, and some of those really badass moments when I was just Uber-Pwning the nuubs with my 1337ness.
And then my son will smile at me.